Carrier system



Dec. 23, 1958 P. A. OSHANYK 2,865,489

CARRIER SYSTEM Filed Nov. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invento r Peter A.Oshanyk his Attorney Dec. 23, 1958 A. OSHANYK CARRIER SYSTEM 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 4, 1955 FIG. 3

- Inve n t o r: Peter A. Oshcmyk wwm his Attorney 2,865,489 CARR SYSTEMPeter A. Oshanyh, Wilton, N. Dali. Application November 4, 1955, SerialNo. 545,025 8 Claims. (Cl. wa er This invention relates to carriersystems for transportmg material between spaced stations and moreparticularly to such a system in which the conveyor member is driven ineither direction by a cable.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved carrier system forelevating material and carrying it from ertherside over a passageway orother space without obstructmg the space.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved reversiblecable drive for a carrier system whereby the conveyor member can bedriven in either direction between spaced stations and will stopautomatically on reaching each station.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improvedreversible cable drive for a carrier system wherein the conveyor memberis driven in either direction by a winding drum through flexible cablelaid on the drum by level-winding devices synchronized with the drum.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved conveyorsystem having a self-leveling conveyor member and utilizing a train ofpairs of double idler pulleys for guiding the flexible cable throughwhich the conveyor member is driven in either direction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter inthe detail-ed description, be partlcularly pointed out in the appendedclaims and be illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the carriersystem of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken longitudinallyof the track, of the drive mechanism of the system;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the drive mechanism of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on an enlarged scaletaken transversely of the track showing the interlock between thecarriermember and each rail; and

Figure 5 is an end elevational view on an enlarged scale of one of thepulley frames.

Referring now in detail to the drawings in which like referencecharacters designate like parts, the carrier system of the presentinvention is especially designed to transport material from one locationto another between which the material must be elevated so as not toobstruct a passageway or other intervening space. It is particularlyadapted for use in restaurants, shipping markets or other installationsin which the intervening space between the loading stations is either abusy thoroughfare or fitted with equipment which the material beingtransported must be elevated to clear.

In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier system has been shown mountedon a welded tubular framework 1 transversely through which extends arectangular passageway or space 2, the framework beingv joined at thebottom across the passageway by side bars 3. While suitable for manyinstallations, it will be understood that the illustrated mounting isexemplary and that, depending 2,865,49 Patented Dec. 213, 1958 .2 on theparticular installation, the system may be mounted on other forms offramework. or even on the main framework of a building.

In essence the carrier system is comprised of a track or-trackway 4extending between horizontally spaced loading and unloading stations orlocations 5. When, as usual, both stations are at the same level, thetrack 4 will have substantially vertical or upright end portions 6rising from the stations above the intervening passageway 2 andconnected over the top of the passageway by a raised, preferablysubstantially level or horizontal intermediate portion 7, the raisedportion 7 for smooth transition being joined to the end portions 6 byarched connecting portions 8. The trackway in turn is comprised of apair of transversely spaced parallel rails 9 on which rides or runs acarrier or material-transporting member 10. The rails 9 must be ofsuitable form to lock or interlock with the wheels or rollers 11 of thecarrier member 10 and prevent relative movement of the latter other thanalong the rails. Conveniently, the rails may be formed as angle ironswith their instanding flanges 12 embraced by or gripped between theoffset pairs of Wheels of the carrier member.

To be self-leveling the carrier member 16 has two main parts, one acarriage 13 bearing the wheels 11 and the other a tray or platform 14,swingably or pivotally connected, as through end-pinned pairs of arms 15on the ends of each, so that the tray will swing freely through its arcof movement. The stations 5 between which the carrier member runs may beclosed or open, an open framework suh'icing in the illustratedembodiment.

For driving. the carrier member 10 in either direction along the track4, there is provided a reversible drive or drive mechanism 16, later tobe described, which drives the carrier member through flexible cabling17. One end portion or cable 18 of the cabling is arranged to pull thecarrier member towards the drivemechanism While the other end portion19, by running it around a reversing pulley 20 anchored to the frame 1below the loading station 5 removed from the drive mechanism, serves topull the carrier member in the opposite direction. A single cablesufiices to pull the carrier member in each direction, each cable beingconnected to the carriage 13 on either side of its transverse midpoint,as by a flexible bridle or yoke 21, so as to prevent canting andpossible jamming of the carriage against the track. The system isfurther simplified by spring-mounting the reversingpulley 2 so as totake up any slack in the entirecabling 17.

Not only do the cables, through their bridle connec-- tions, preventcanting of the carrier but by a slight transverse ofl-set of one cablerelative to the other, as by off-setting the reversing pulley 20, bothare enabled to be guided in their paths above the levels of theloadingstations by a single or common train of double guide pulleys 22arranged in tandem. In order that the main path of travel of the cablesmay substantially parallel the rails, two sets of double pulleys areprovided, one at each side of the passageway 2, and the pulleys of eachset are mounted along an arcuate path in a quadrantshaped pulley frame23.

The driving mechanism 16 may be mounted in a drive box 24 and has awinding drum 25 preferably disposed to rotate about an axissubstantially normal to the track 4. On the periphery 26 of the drum 25the cables 18 and 19 or, if the preferred single cable is used, itsopposite end portions, are wound oppositely so that one is payed out asthe other is pulled in, the portion of the cable about the drum beingwound inone direction, the distance between the projectingendportionsthus being maintained-constant as the drumrotates. Preferably made ofwood and flanged at either end of its periphery 3 26, to contain thecables, the drum 25 with its shaft or axle 27 suitably journaled inroller or like bearings (not shown) is drivable or rotatable in eitherdirection by a reversible electric motor 28 through reduction gearing29, the several components being connected for positive drive by rollerchains 30. It will be noted that there are two sprockets keyed the axle27 of the drum, one 31 engaging the rollc chain 38 to the reductiongearing 29. The other s :et 32 engages or meshes with a second rollerafn 33 by which the drum is synchronized in driv 11th each of a pair oflike-threaded worm shaft through sprockets 35 keyed to the Worm shafts*ach of the worm shafts is disposed parallel to axle 27 of the drum 25and mounts an inter threaded follower or collar 36. The followeres bei gheld against rotation by guide fingers 37 rigidth rewith and each ridingin a slot 38 in an associated fixed guide bar 39 extending across thedrive box 24 parallel to the worm shafts, are caused to traverse theperiphery of the drum axially in the same direction and at a constanttransverse spacing, as the drum rotates. It then is only necessary foreach of the followers 36 to carry or mount a guide pulley 40 engagingone of the cable ends 18 and 19 for each of the latter to be laid evenlyon the drum as the other is unwound. For maintaining the chains and 33,driving and driven, respectively, by the drum, under proper tension,each rides over one of a pair of shiftable-axis idler sprockets 41, thetensioning sprocket for the chain 33 additionally providing a readymeans for dismounting the chain and adjusting the positions of the guidepulleys trans versely of the drive box 24 to conform to the positions ofthe cable end portions 18 and 19. It will be perceived that the tensionon the cables would vary as the cable end portions shift from one to theother side of the drum were the several guide pulleys fixed, suchvariation here being compensated for by the spring mounting of thereversing pulley 20. Additionally, in order that the cable end portionswill substantially align with the set of overhead guide pulleys 22adjacent the drive mechanism 16, despite shifting of the cables on thedrum, each cable end, as it enters or leaves the drive box 24, rides ona pair of spaced fixed guide pulleys 42 attached to the top of the box.

With the reversible drive mechanism just described, it remains only toprovide the necessary controls for the carrier system to operate in themanner intended. In the illustrated embodiment, as in the usualapplication, push-button or like control switches 43 are provided at thetwo loading stations 5 for enabling the operator at each station tostart, stop or reverse the direction of travel of the carrier member 10at will. 7 Additionally, to prevent the carrier member from over-runningone of the stations should an operator not be present when it arrives, apush-button or other switch 44, sufficiently sensitive to respond to thecarrier member, is mounted at each loading station in the path of thecarrier member so as to be tripped or actuated by it and automaticallystop the driving motor 28 as the loading member reaches the level atwhich it is loaded and unloaded. Here the automatic switches 44 aremounted on the open framework serving as the loading stations anddisposed to be engaged by the underside of the tray 14 of the carriermember as the tray reaches proper level. Both the manual and theautomatic switches preferably are connected with the motor through acontactor 45 mounted in the drive box 24.

From the above detailed description, it will be apparent that there hasbeen provided an improved carrier system and driving mechanism thereforby which material can readily be transported between spaced loadingstations without obstructing an intervening passageway or like space. Itwill be understood that the described-and disclosed embodiment is merelyexemplary of the invention and that all modifications are intended to beini 7 4 eluded which do not depart fro invention or the scope of-theHaving described my m ith erthe spirit of the ended claims. ention, Iclaim:

1. A carrier s t for transporting material between spaced sta' over anintervening space, comprising a tra connecting said stations and offsetupwardly V e een for clearing said space, a carrier member locked to andriding on said track, flexible cable means connected to said carriermember for pulling said member in opposite directions, reversible drivemeans connected and applying force selectively to said cable means fordriving said carrier member in either direction, and control means ateach station for controlling the movement of said carrier membertherebetween.

2. A carrier system for transporting material between spaced stationsover an intervening space, comprising a track connecting said staticnsand ofiset upwardly therebetween fcr clearing said space, a carriermember-locked to and riding on said track, a pair of cables connectingsaid carrier member to said drive mechanism for selective drive thereofin opposite directions by said mechanism, a single train of guidepulleys fixed in positicn relative to said track for guiding said cablesin substantially coincident paths above said stations, and control meansfor controlling the operation of said mechanism and therethrough themovement of said carrier member.

3. A carrier system for transporting material between spaced stationsover an intervening space, comprising a track connecting said stationsand offset upwardly therebetween for clearing said space, a tubularwelded frame containing said space, a pair of horizontally spacedloading and unloading stations on said frame at opposite sides andintermediate the height of said space, a track mounted on said frame andconnecting said stations, said track intermediate said stations beingoflset upwardly thereof to clear said space, a carrier member having acarriage locked to and riding on said track and a selfleveling trayswingably mounted on said carriage, a reversible drive mechanism on saidframe adjacent one of said stations, flexible cable means connectingsaid drivemechanism to said carriage for driving said carrier member inopposite directions along said track, guide means intermediate saidstations and attached and fixed in position relative to said frame forguiding said cable means in a path corresponding in changes of directionto said track, and control means for controlling the operation of saidmecheanism and therethrcugh the movement of said carrier member.

4. A carrier system for transporting material between spaced stationsover an intervening space, comprising a track connecting said stationsand offset upwardly therebetween for clearing said space, a pair ofloading and unloading stations disposed at opposite sides andintermediate the height of said space, a track connecting said stationsand cffset upwardly therebetween to clear said space, a carrier memberlocked to transversely spaced rails and ridable on said track, areversible drive mechanism for driving said carrier member in eitherdirection between said stations, a pair of flexible cables drivable bysaid mechanism and each having a yoke connection to said carrier member,each of said cables being disposed substantially centrally transverselyof said track, guide means connected to said track and independent ofmovement of said carrier member for guiding said cables above the levelof said space in a path substantially parallel to said rails, andcontrol means for controlling the operation of said mechanism andtherethrough the movement of said carrier member and including means forautomatically stopping said carrier member at each of said stations.

5. A carrier system for transporting material between spaced stations,comprising a track connecting said stations, a carrier member locked toand ridable on said track, a pair of cables wound oppositely on awinding drum and each arranged to pull said carrier member in onedirection on said track, a reversible motor for driving said drum ineither direction, a pair of Worm shafts adjacent and extendingsubstantially parallel to the axis of said drum, a follower on andreciprocable axially of said drum by each of said worm shafts, and aguide pulley carried by each of said followers and engaging one of saidcables, said worm shafts being drivably connected to said drum andsynchronized in drive therewith for causing each of said guide pulleysto lay the associated of said cables evenly upon said drum.

6. A carrier system for transporting material between spaced stations,comprising a track connecting said stations, a carrier member locked toand ridable on said track, a winding drum rotatable about an axissubstantially normal to said track, a pair of cables wound oppositely onsaid winding drum and connected to and arranged to pull said carriermember in opposite directions on said track, a reversible motor fordriving said drum in either direction, and a pair of level-winding meansdriven ofi of and in synchronism with said drum at a predeterminedtransverse spacing and each engaging one of said cables adjacent theretofor laying said cables evenly thereon.

7. In a carrier system having a track-mounted carrier member fortransporting materials between spaced stations, a cable drive fordriving said member in either direction between said stations,comprising, a winding drum, a pair of cables wound oppositely on saiddrum and connected to and arranged to pull said carrier member inopposite directions along said track, a reversible motor for selectivelydriving said winding drum in either direction, and an idler pulleyengaging each of said cables adjacent and being reciprocable axially ofsaid drum, said idler pulleys being reciprocably driven off of andreciprocated in the same direction at a predetermined transverse spacingin synchronism with said drum for laying said cables evenly thereon.

8. In a carrier system having a track-mounted carrier member fortransporting materials between spaced stations, a cable drive fordriving said member in either direction between said stations,comprising, a Winding drum, a pair of cables wound oppositely on saiddrum and connected to and arranged to pull said carrier member inopposite directions along said track, a reversible motor for selectivelydriving said winding drum in either direction, a pair of followersadjacent and reciprocable in the same direction at a predeterminedtransverse spacing axially of said drum in synchronism with the rotationthereof, and a guide pulley carried by each of said followers and eachengaging one of said cables for laying said cables evenly on said drum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS490,984 Pine Jan. 31, 1893 1,128,003 Ketelsen Feb. 9, 1915 1,582,411Lesser et al Apr. 27, 1926 2,044,391 Lindsay June 16, 1936 2,472,943Firestone June 14, 1949 2,599,444 Gavin June 3, 1952

